Melanie Smith

Leslie Ryland is a seasoned attorney who has spent the last three decades representing clients in all types of family law matters, with a special focus on custody issues. She is a Certified Family Law Specialist, a special designation from the State Bar of California reserved for attorneys who have “demonstrated a high level of experience in the specialty field, fulfilled ongoing education requirements and been favorably evaluated by other attorneys and judges familiar with their work.&...

Mary Snyder is a director in the Labor & Employment Practice Group at Wilson Turner Kosmo. She has been a litigator and counselor at law since 1999. Her practice includes litigation in state and federal courts, as well as in front of administrative tribunals, in arbitrations and in appellate proceedings. Mary’s litigation experience includes matters brought under a full range of employment laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA...

Mike Hird is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Corporate Law, Leveraged Buyouts and Private Equity Law, Securities / Capital Markets Law and Venture Capital Law. Mike practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Mike Hird since 2010. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Mike Hird is held by other l...

Mr. Patiño is a partner with Cozen O'Connor and a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Department. He represents companies in high-stakes commercial and intellectual property disputes. Mr. Patiño has argued before the courts of 20 different states and has particular experience with patent litigation-specific proceedings, including before the International Trade Commission, and as special intellectual property counsel in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Among prominent represen...

Melanie Gold spent more than three decades as a research attorney for California appellate courts. She primarily worked with the justices of the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego, but also with those of the Sixth District Court of Appeal in San Jose as well as the California Supreme Court in San Francisco. During that time, Melanie analyzed thousands of briefs, motions, and petitions, advised justices on hundreds of appeals, and developed a deep understanding of how appellate court...

For more than 20 years, Jason M. Kirby has represented hundreds of clients in litigation cases in San Diego and throughout California. Kirby’s primary practice areas are business litigation and real estate litigation, but he has been involved in almost every type of civil case at some point during his career. Kirby is an experienced trial lawyer. Kirby handles both plaintiff’s cases and defense cases. As a plaintiff’s lawyer, he has had multiple jury verdicts in excess of a ...

Patricia Benke is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Appellate Practice. Patricia practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Patricia Benke since 2026. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Patricia Benke is held by other lawyers.

Aaron M. Olsen is a partner at Haeggquist & Eck, LLP, and a trial lawyer standing up for employees who have experienced retaliation, discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual assault. Aaron has resolved hundreds of individual labor and employment law cases on behalf of employees. He has recovered millions of dollars in damages. Notably, Aaron was on the trial team in a unique associational disability discrimination matter against Kaiser Permanente that resulted in one of the top 50 la...

Christopher C. Bolten is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area of Litigation - Intellectual Property. Christopher C. practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Christopher C. Bolten since 2027. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Christopher C. Bolten is held by other lawyers.

Danielle Hultenius Moore is a lawyer recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice areas of Employment Law - Management and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Danielle Hultenius practices law in San Diego, California Best Lawyers has recognized Danielle Hultenius Moore since 2020. The Best Lawyers recognition is based on a peer-review survey of lawyers in the same geographic region and legal practice area. The recognition reflects the professional regard in which Danielle Hultenius Moore is held...